There are some words that really, really get on my nerves.
Especially ones that are used to label, minimize, or condescend, and basically, any time words are used to put kind of an ugly label on things when it’s just not necessary.
For example…

Princess

“Oh, she’s such a princess.”
Hearing a guy say that gives me the chills. I can’t even really explain why.

Cougar

It was already kind of lame back when it was just used to describe women who were attracted to younger men, but it’s even worse now that it’s used for (pretty much) Any Woman Over Forty.

It’s annoying because it categorizes women in a way that no one ever does with men, who we continue to find sexy at any age, no matter how old their partner is.

Yesterday, I went to see Edge Of Tomorrow (this way you know you shouldn’t bother going to see it even if Tom Cruise is pretty funny at the beginning which is a nice suprise) and [spoiler alert] [Ok, I mean, it’s not like we didn’t see it coming] Emily Blunt (31) and Tom Cruise (51) make out in the movie and no one raises an eyebrow.

What would people have said if it were Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher? Cougar!!! Argh.

Plus size

Ah, the infinite creativity it must take to not say it like it is.
I understand you can’t exactly open a “fat” section in the store, but the expression plus-size is just plus-annoying. I say curvy. Not much better, I know.

Fashionista

Even though I don’t really know what else to say when I want to talk about a girl who likes fashion, I never really liked the word fashionista (But I do like Fashionista with a capital F, the website) even worse now that it’s used in a way that’s not even funny anymore, all over the place and in the most condescending way possible: “Fashionista alert! Sample sale this weekend!” crrrrriiiinge.

So now the problem is — what to call a girl who likes fashion? Who knows.

Bitch

Ok I admit I say it sometimes, but always as a joke, like – yo, bitch, but it depresses me anyway, for a reason that makes Alex burst out laughing every time: I love dogs, and therefore I love bitches.
I’m tired of people insulting them. They didn’t do anything!

Vagina

I hate the way this word is used in the US. I’ve already talked to you about that here. But I guess something is lost in translation because my American friends seem super comfortable using the word vagina to describe their pussy [and they use the word vagina A LOT].

So I say pussy, the literal translation of the French word chatte, and everyone looks kind of shocked – I think it’s a super trashy word in the US.

Is she on her period or something?

Too true (and too painful)(I take Advil) to not be extremely annoying coming out of the mouth of a man who can’t understand. And even worse when it comes from a woman, who can understand.

Ok, maybe this doesn’t annoy me that much, actually. Compared to the expression above, it’s even kind of cute. Right? What do you think?

Obsessed

And all the words that go along with fashion-related hysteria that I commit myself way too often: “I’m dying for those shoes! Omg, dying!!!” “SO obsessed!!!” “Scatter my ashes at Bergdorf Goodman!!!” (um, really, you like shopping THAT much?)

Ok, fine. I know I say things like that every day. What? I never said I didn’t annoy myself, too!

Maybe it is. Hold on, you might have something there, be careful, they might add this to the DSM (since they are constantly looking for new diseases to help pharmaceutical companies find new market opportunities). If it really was a mental disease, would anyone want a cure? The fashion industry would start a war with Big Pharma, that would be fun…

Words I dislike: Whatever. Actually. And the phrase “at the end of the day”. But what I really dislike is poor grammar. Let me ask this open question- please respond- Are people outside of the United States as awful at using grammar and spelling in their own native language as Americans are at using English? I am really curious to know if it is only Americans that cannot seem to grasp the basics of the one language we needed to learn. It’s infuriating.

Everybody around the world is becoming more and more terrible with grammar and spelling because nobody is checking spelling and grammar on Internet (I actually have someone do it here). French is even worse, as we have so many letters you can’t hear and different verb forms. I am totally guilty (since moving here I’m losing my french so fast), but I feel terrible about it (if that helps) xx

It’s weird, because I’m studying foreign languages and translation (I speak Greek and Albanian as a bilingual and also English and French due to my studies) and I’ve realised that wanting to learn a language and start from the beginning is completely different from being a native speaker (who usually don’t pay attention to grammatical & syntactical structures of their own language)!
Most people blame the rythmes of modern life for this trend of simplification, but I suppose nowadays words just don’t matter as much as they used to, they’ve been replaced by images…

I also don’t understand why it is impossible to first think and then formulate and entire sentence without ..like… kind of like, you know what I mean? As a non native speaker, it confuses me a lot to follow and understand what someone is trying to say when the information is distributed between three million like and kind of (, riiiight?). Most problematic for me: these words are infections, and they slowly creep in, and recently I noticed I use them now, too.

@garance Yes – the french are worse! I’m American (who speaks French), and when I see French conversation on Twitter, I’m like, “!?what?! is going on here…???” The responses are missing half the letters, and add in all the strange abbreviations and colloquialisms, there’s little chance even a half-way French speaker would even know what language is happening in front of their eyes. It’s sort of mind boggling considering how beautiful and elegant French/ French culture is that the natives, uh, ‘arrange’ the language comme ca. :(

With regard to poor grammar seen on various forums, for me – I think it’s due to my terrible typing skills and the smallness of my mobile screen (I clearly don’t own a Samsung, whose larger screen will apparently help those without the ability to re-read their four point font posts).

My aversion is to the following: “whatevs”; the phrase, “you rock/you rock that outfit”; “meh”; and the overused “awesome” and “totes” (instead of “totally”).

I’m not sure why I don’t like those words and phrases: that will probably be another whole post in itself.

I noticed some stores call the “plus size” section Women’s. Isn’t that nice? The “normal” sizes are Misses’, which is still not so bad, but maybe a little condescending (?). As far as words/phrases I don’t like: “Back in the day”…just drives me nuts.

Ha! I love this post, Garance! There are so many words that get on my nerves – words that not only make me cringe when someone is using them, but also make me feel strangely embarrassed for said person (my unhealthy empathy, I suppose :) )

I can’t stand it when grown men say “sweet”. For example: “Oh, we’re going out for dinner? SWEET!!!” Ugh. I also dislike the overuse of popular catch phrases such as “on point”, and lately the word “legit”.

I hate the word “gorge” (for gorgeous). What I hate most is when the word “emotional” is used to describe someone with an opinion. If I give an opinion on something that I am passionate about and someone comes back with a response that I am being too emotional that drives me crazy! I am okay if someone doesn’t agree with me, but provide a reason other then I am “emotional!” Oh and a definite no to the word pussy – it makes me shudder.

To me, “vagina” is respectful, while “pussy” and worse are gross. Words I dont like–how about “perfect” when something is just OK. Or fillers like “at the end of the day” or at this point in time.” For the latter, just say “now” willya?

“Have a good one”. A good what? A good day? Then say it. ” No worries”. Who’s worried?? 24/7. Argh! Can people not speak proper english?? And sorry, but as a Canadian that lived in America for 5 years, this I couldn’t believe! – ‘dudn’t’…I don’t even know how to spell that because it is not a real word.

Thank you so much for this post! I agree on all counts! Except maybe with ‘pussy’, which my elegant grandmother used as well, incidentally. I just can’t. I’d like to add ‘it is what it is’ to the mix of phrases I can’t stand. xo

Thanks for response, Garance. So, it’s good that it’s not just Americans screwing up language, I suppose. I know people don’t care about grammar, but I have so much respect for the intricacies of language that I do. One of my favorite times was getting to know someone who’s now my close friend- he came here from Morocco and he asked me questions about English all the time, and taught me French and bits of other languages. Anyway, this is quite an aside! I really like the fact that there are some words and phrases which are not able to be translated.

I guess like most of the girls here I hate all the mysoginist expressions, which hide a much more powerful message than what they seem to imply. The saddest thing is that by using them, we as women are being part of the problem. It’s really interesting to raise a debate on this subject, since a lot of people seem to think of it as a minor inconvenience. Words are really powerful and I’ve always thought that a good way of reappropriating them is to give them new meanings. Maybe we should start calling men cougars, fashionistas, etc. That way they would know what it feels like to be constantly labelled and put on a box.

On another subject, I absolute hate the “selfie” word… it drives me mad, but i confess i use it too :p

– “Obsessed”, especially in the case of bloggers who are “obsessed” with a different thing every hour. Google obsession.

-Everybody’s “OCD” these days. Google that too.

-“Curvy”, referring to overweight women. I prefer plus sized. It is possible to be curvy without being plus sized. And plus sized is just a description, and a true one at that. Unless you’re Mango, who goes around calling a UK size 12 “plus-sized”. I don’t think that overweight people need patronising any more than they need vilification. Not even with the best of intentions.

I don’t know why ‘curvy’ is being used as the politically correct way to say ‘fat’. I can tell you I am curvy but I am definitely not fat.

Equally, I cannot quite pinpoint the time when ‘plus size’ started to mean anything above a US size 6 or when size 0 started to mean something designed for a woman instead of an 8-year-old boy. We are not all 5’5″ and 80 lbs. The spectrum of healthy normality is very wide and includes curvy and straight.

As an American who has lived in France for quite a while, I also get the chills when I hear that “Princesse” nonsense, but without quite knowing why– I’ve never been sure that I fully understand the connotation. Anyone want to clarify?

Yes to all those words! “Princess” is the same thing as “bitch” – a woman who knows what she wants and asks for it, how dare she, the selfish bitch! I also hate the misuse of “vagina,” which we use instead of “vulva.” Women’s sexuality is so chained-up in our culture that we have to refer to it in terms of reproductive organs rather than pleasure organs. The clitoris is the only organ in the human body that has no other purpose than pleasure. How cool is it that it’s ours? “Plus-size” and “cougar” both are put-down labels that are used with staggering regularity, as though they are not MEANT to be insulting.

Thanks Diane – why do so many of us refer to our vulva as a vagina? It’s so weird and reduces us sexually. I know women who use the term ‘gina – not cute and I even know one woman who taught her daughter about ‘gina hair – which I find most alarming as it would be growing internally. Why are we as women perpetuating these ridiculous demeaning terms and not celebrating what we have?

I know it is a little off topic, but you mentioned that plus-size is a word that annoys you. I am plus-size or what ever you wanna call it and what annoys me more than the word is, that plus-size fashion is awful! Just awful. Not only is it hard enough to be overweight but the cloth you find in stores are a disaster.
I know, that that is my problem, because I simply could loose the weight, but it is really frustrating to look like a “mum-jeans” girl.
Even though I know, that this is a fashion blog and most fashion girls are thin/normal weight… I really would love to see a post with a couple of brands who do decent cloth. I am just looking for a nice jeans and a stripped long sleeve t-shirt or cotton shirts that are nice.

I have every sympathy for you. I live in a rural, not fashion forward area. The “big girl” stores are filled with hideous things in ugly pattens with so much ruching (is that even how you spell that?)! Its tragic. A friend of mine took to making her own clothes so she could have some kick ass things to wear that fit her and weren’t tents. Good luck!

I also don’t like “whatever”, “not really” – is it yes or no…what “not really”?? and the sentences formed “like, you know, I saw this guy and like, OMG” Ugh. I am also not a fan of morons who pretend to know it all, make a bunch of grammatical mistakes and call them spelling errors.

Labels in general. Scottish people are stingy, Italian women are hairy (I’m Italian and as all the women in my family we hardly have body hair), French women are loose or they wear maid costumes. TV and magazines are full of them. It’s such a disservice to the public. Very sad.

Ok, I have a lot. First, when people (often men but I hear it from women more and more) call someone they’ve hurt/mistreated crazy. It’s like, actually, you’re horrible and that person deserved to yell at you. It also irks me when men call women “girls” or “cute,” like we’re just weak little dolls with no personalities, opinions, or strength.

“Classy” is completely misused now and seems only to refer to things that are not at all classy. All internet abbreviations are absolutely grating (“totes adorbs,” “gorge,” “obvi,” etc.” Also internet-related, “want” and “need” used in place of full sentences.

Everyone using the word “marriage” to say that two things are combined. People calling things awkward that aren’t awkward.

And lastly, “real women.” I am very used to x-small clothes being too big for me, so apparently I’m not a real women. Let’s be overly sensitive to large people, but tell small people they’re not valid as people. That just feels great. Ugh that leads me to, similar to crazy, calling someone you’ve screwed over or insulted “overly sensitive.” The term for people who do that should be under-sensitive or kindness-deficient.

I hate the word “rock” used for anything and nothing. “you totally rock this outfit” and so on… Please, a bit more imagination, both French and English languages have such an extensive vocabulary. Which is why every now and then I have to re-read the old authors, to make sure I don’t totally loose my knowledge of both languages’ literary words. So many have totally disappeared from our everyday vocabulary.
On another note, my son’s teacher finds extraordinary that he knows so many words composed of three syllables (he’s 10). Scary!

Oh, yes to “literally!” This one makes my hair catch fire. Idiots use it when they mean “metaphorically” , “emphatically,” or “I’m exaggerating.” I heard it the other day misused by a respected commentator on NPR (National Public Radio here in the USA) and I thought my head would explode (but not literally). I think the late, great George Carlin had a bit about “literally” and I may go look for it right now!

being american everything sounds better to me in another language…..my french X call me mignon chatte….I use bitch…as a positive When i am mean i say your to ugly or phat to be a bitch….cougar applies to American women….in France it very different…..

When we first started dating my boyfriend mentioned how he couldn’t stand how much people use the word ‘literally’. After he said this, I could have killed him because I started hearing and noticing it all the time.. ‘I literally ate the whole thing’, ‘I literally can’t stand them’, ‘I literally say ‘literally’ all the time…’ Ahhhh! And to top it off very few people are even using the word properly… Trust me you’ll hear it all the time now… You’re welcome.

When did that become the only adjective used to describe anything? If a nail polish color is amazing, and meal is amazing, and a trip to Spain is amazing, and the work of a generous humanitarian is amazing, then it all blends together and I’m to believe that nothing is actually amazing.

OK, seriously, CURVY, should be on this list. As someone who actually is actually curvy, it annoys the shit of out me that it now means plus-sized. I get that there are women who are both curvy and plus sized, but seriously Garance, I don’t have a body shape or body type anymore because my body type now is code for overweight.

‘Yummy’, which makes anyone sound like a two year old, ‘Yummy Mummy’ which sounds disgusting and disrespectful, (should I throw in MILF, too?) ‘Baby bump’ which reduces pregnancy, the most important life decision one can make (which is also a serious medical condition, according to one leading female cardiologist) to something silly and trivial. I’ve never been pregnant, but according to the women I know who have, it is much more than a ‘bump’, believe me.

I agree with most of the commenters about bad grammar, but seeing it along with typos in print makes me want to blow the bejeezus out of everything! Years ago, you never saw typos in publications like a major newspaper, and this was before technology. Now I stumble upon typos every week in a paper that starts with N and ends with T.

Epic! I hate the word epic. It is most often used to describe things that are not, in fact, all that epic. Also it sounds like something a pre-teen aged boy would say. Related but more an issue of punctuation… when people put a period after every word as in I. Hate. That. Maybe it was effective the first time I read it but it is over now and I wish people would stop. It makes me think of Valley Girls and is just annoying. I also agree with the above comment that the word amazing has been overused to the point that it is becoming meaningless. I love you and your blog though Garance and I love that you say pussy–haha.

It is a special ability only british seem to have to: ask how are you, answer, ask back and listen to the answer and make a comment about the weather- in the 5 seconds passing each other on the corridor.

Ah! I was just called “princess”, at work! I hated it! Speaking of work, I’m not a fan of the corporate speak, such as “on the same page” or “thinking outside the box” and other catch-phrases. I agree that language is a powerful thing, and the demeaning misogynistic words about women that are being accepted are not okay. I think social media uses too many catch-phrases and slang words, and the medium allows for too many grammatical gaffs. It’s a shame, language can be such a beautiful thing. And, I do hate the word Selfie! Ugh! Thank you, Garance, for having such great discussions and debates on your blog! Bravo!

I am very tired of hearing “In the wake of”, when a newscaster is describing the events taking place after almost any major situation has been reported.” Aftermath” is usually in the next sentence. Both are useful words, but in the past several years, greatly overused.
“Besties” is starting to grate on me. I do think that slang is a colorful and interesting part of any language, but some of the more recent words and phrases lack imagination.

Brands that refer to their stuff as “THE shirt”, “THE jeans” etc. It’s really arrogant to assume your designs are better than all others. Ditto “must-have” Really???
While we are ranting…”lippy” has annoyed me for the last 25 years…

Literally, this word has been usurped as a quantifier and it drives me crazy. Another one is blessed. While it’s nice to count your blessings it gets annoying to read “I’m so blessed” all the time on social media. It’s the kind of word that will lose all power and meaning with overuse and we’ll have to come up with a new word for when we really are blessed.

I equally loathe the word fashionista and cringe when that verbiage is applied to me, even when I know I am supposed to take it as a complement. The word, in and of itself, is not very pleasing to the ear: it sounds terribly contrived and perhaps for that reason sounds to me like pejorative. I share your predicament when it comes to finding a pithy and yet equally effective term for describing a woman who is a style maven. Perhaps there it is: a style maven? a fashion enthusiast? And then there is the question of what we call men who fashion savvy…

Awesome and Amazing. They’re great words but lately they’ve been over used. I tend to use them only when I really, really, mean something is awesome or amazing or when they’re description is so absolutely accurate that it just makes sense–kinda like swearing.

And specially the abuse of english words and expressions in non-english-speaking contries. I live in south america , in a spanish speaking country and there are signs and pubs everywhere announcing “luxury something” “green living” , the magazines and tv people refering to someone as a “celebrity” rather than celebridad, etc. WHY?????? Are other languages so poor that we have to borrow english words ALL the time?
Oh, and the ” it” something: it girl, it bag, it the f#*#!
And bad grammar, in any language. And “selfies”, hate hate hate it!

Txting …..When did it become ok to abbreviate everything… The other day I received 3 txt’s and really had no idea what they were asking me…
Ty- thank you
Ure- your
Bty- by the way, are just a few….. Have just realised I have done it myself by using the abbreviation for texting….. Oh well, it is just the way things are!!!!!!!

I completely agree with you about “vagina,” It confuses me when people use the word to describe a woman’s whole apparatus, not the internal passageway that it is. But the challenge is that in English I do think that “pussy” is for the bedroom. I use it with my husband but not with my women friends. With my women friends I use “bush” for the outside (though no one seems to have one these days). With my baby daughter I use the word “vulva” to describe the outer area. I often think that the word “cunt,” which is now considered horribly vulgar, should be reclaimed for the good, as at least it describes the whole thing!! Of course there’s “genitals,” but that just sounds so … icky and for the newspapers or science texts!!

As for other pet peeves, I mostly can’t stand it when I say “excuse me” (for instance in a crowded supermarket) and the person who I’d like to step aside says, “you’re good.” I had no doubt that I was good, I just want you to move, lady! I also cringe at the increasingly common habit of saying “I’ll do a double latte,” “in the morning we’ll do a frittata with asparagus,” “she doesn’t do caffeine… ” bleah! What happened to verbs like “eat” or “drink,” or polite forms like, “I’d like a latte, please?” grrrr….

And one more thing! I HATE the term FOODIE. I’m a chef and there is nothing worse than people who call themselves Foodies and refer to people who are good cooks or chefs as Foodies. If I can speak for many of my chef-friends, Foodies are obnoxious people who yelp from restaurants as if they were food critics. How about– I love to cook; I love restaurants. Just sayin’… (another term I can’t stand. LOL) We need a new language… Haha.

Totally agree with you on the Vagina one, especially knowing that it’s only part of the sex itself. How many times people says “this looks like a vagina” etc. But HELLO! it looks like a “Vulva”,nothing to do with a vagina! Learn your own body girls! It is like saying throat instead of mouth!
So yes Garance, Pussy and Chatte are better words! I am always surprised that people can mix up such things!

Hated it when an article starts with the caption ; {girl, dressed in a very sexy way} shows {man, the ex} what he’s missing !

Of course he knows what she looks like, he’s probably seen her nude during the relationship and now they’ve separated, he’s glad he won’t have to see her (ever) again …

Most of the times these articles include the word ‘pins’ instead of legs ! What’s with that ?

And very annoying ; when for ex. a Royal is wearing a dress twice, they call it ‘recycling’ ?????
In my world, recycling still means :
re·cy·cle (r-skl)
tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles
1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment.
2. To start a different cycle in.
3.
a. To extract useful materials from (garbage or waste).
b. To extract and reuse (useful substances found in waste).
4.
a. To use again, especially to reprocess: recycle aluminum cans; recycle old jokes.
b. To recondition and adapt to a new use or function: recycling old warehouses as condominiums.

words/expressions i cringe on:
”going forward…” ugh
”fierce” except when used to properly describe a wild animal or m-a-a-a-ybe a human warrior, but NOT a stylish or boldly dressed human.
like the word ”cunt” more and more–short and sweet, but it’s still so taboo here in the USA so it’s hard to use and have it be heard in a positive way.

I agree with someone along the long list of commentaries that the phrase “at the end of the day” is really awful. But the worst “overuse” of a word, though, must be “iconic”. Every bloody body and thing is iconic these days. They use it on the news all the time, too! It completely lost its meaning. Princess, cougar and “she must be on her period” are truly terrible as well – totally agree with you! Very nice illustration by the way!

A little bit towards the word you picked ‘obssesed’ – the most common use of ‘love’. I love the shoes, I love your post, I love your nails… really? When did the special word like that become so ubiquitous? When I hear it it always makes me think 2 things: 1) you better get in touch with your real feelings, 2) don’t get so fired-up and overexcited, its just shoes/ earrings/scarf/some-other-random-or-not-so-life-changing-thing.
Best,

I agree with so many of your ‘word’s. I really despise the phrase “NO PROBLEM” or shortened is worse “NO PROB”, especially when it comes from someone is Customer Service. Sometimes I ask a question or request and the person replies NO PROBLEM, and I want to scream “I know it isn’t a problem, this is a legitimate questions and it is YOUR JOB. Thank you, very much!”

Another thing that bugs me is the use of VAGINA by people who actually mean VULVA. Anything that cam be seen externally on the female genitalia is the Vulva…the vagina is the term for the internal passage leading to the cervix.

I especially hate “Princess” as well as “Doll” or “Miss”!! Especially if referred to little girls.. As you wouldn’t expect from her nothing but being quiet, pink and frivolous..

And I completely agree with you about all the terms used for women that will be never used for mens, such as “cougar” or “bitch”.. It’s weird how much machism is perfectly normal and accepted. But we need to evolve, no?

As well as “To die for” or “Obsessed”, when is about products I feel it lacks of sense of reality..

Ayway this is the kind of post that keeps me from coming back here!! Thank you, it is so refreshing!

I wanted to call my website “Cougars and Crones,” but decided against it. (My point was there is something else.) Unfortunately, I think that every term that arrises to refer to women eventually takes on extremely negative connotations. Sad. But that said, I live pussy too!

It turns my stomach nearly inside-out when someone responds using the word “correct” as a response to a basic statement such as: Oh… I understand that you are a doctor who works in the emergency room”. “Correct”. Arghhhh!!!! I detest that beyond all else! Why can one not just say “yes”? Grrrrrr!

Well, we all have our dislikes. I happen to absolutely hate it when people try to be witty, because they usually fail. But I don’t hold it against them. My opinion is that the more words in the language the better off we all are. Even if you don’t like what is being expressed, it is best if people have more to work with, rather then less. Its not the words that you don’t like; its the fact that there are times when people feel disrespect towards others, particularly females. But the truth is that some women deserve disrespect at certain times. Respect is nothing if it isn’t earned. Shutting peoples mouth doesn’t change how they feel.

Hmmm, so I guess we won’t be referring to you and your boo as “Scarance?”

Hate misuse of “couture,” agree with you about “cougar” and “fashionista” (though i do love the term “fash-hole”) and I readily admit to overusing “fabulous, perfect and amazing!” Terrif. I think pussy is a cute way to refer to a kittycat, but unless you have ze French accent, it is best not used for the netherregions.

Oh, and I hate being referred to as a “mature” woman. I’m planning on bring immature for a lifetime.

I feel as though “pussy” has become kind of trashy because of the way it is used and its context nowadays, like in rap music. For example, lil wayne’s “pussy monster” (cringe), where he raps:
Hi, I’m the
Pussy monster, the pussy monster
The pussy monster, the pussy monster
And you gotta feed me
Pussy, pussy pussy, pussy pussy
Pussy, pussy pussy, pussy pussy
I gotta, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta
I got a sweet tooth, I got a sweet tooth
I got a sweet tooth, I got a sweet tooth
Now can I eat you? Can I eat you?
(it continues in this *disgusting, crass, trashy, etc. manner)
I agree that the word is more appealing in French, because it sounds so goddamn cute and the french sophistication masks the “hood” ness of “pussy”

Ahhhh that word (can’t even type it!) is really bad in America, it’s like one of the filthiest words I can think off haha (don’t know why, just is–no one I know says it, ever). And I also hate “fashionistaaaa” so much too, makes me think of a teenybopper wearing a glittery scarf.

So… We can’t refer to you and your “boo” (another word I hate) as Scarance?

I hate the misuse of “couture,” agree with you about the overuse of “bitch.” A very Southern friend of mine used to refer to all kitty cats as “pussies” and once walked out of my apartment loudly declaring ” I have your black pussy hair all over me!” I almost died. Literally. I think that phrase best describes a woman’s nether regions when pronounced with a distinctive French accent.

“It’s annoying because it categorizes women in a way that no one ever does with men, who we continue to find sexy at any age, no matter how old their partner is.”

The usual term used for a man who’s attracted to younger women(or men) is “dirty old man” or in the tabloid press, “pervert”. Often the report using these perjoratives being printed next to a picture of a scantily clad teenage girl (if you think I don’t like the gutter press I’ll not argue with you).

I personally dislike conflated names like “Brangelina” they feel to semantically deny the individuality of the two human beings involved, to package them as a commodity. It feels dehumanising.

I’d like to add a couple to your list; “junk” to refer to a man’s external genitalia. My prick and bollocks are not junk, they’re much cherished lifelong companions. Occasionally troublesome but not junk.

The other is a phrase, “in the DNA of (insert organisation here)”. DNA is a biological molecule; any brand, whether Fendi, Chanel, Fuji, Ferrari, De Rosa or the ghastly WalMart is not a biological entity. It can have an ethos, but not DNA.

Oh thank you Garance, for giving me the platform to finally say this. Everybody! Please, please stop using the word ECLECTIC – especially when followed by the word mix. Its use is: Pretentious, lazy, and has become meaningless through over use. And it does not make design professionals sound clever. Just all of the above. It makes me want to scream and then vomit violently when I hear it in a fashion/interior design context.

I also find bitch so offensive! Lots of people use it as a joke without really thinking about the significance of the word, but when you’ve been called a bitch to your face it’s not so funny anymore and you think about how someone is actually describing you, or your friend. Likewise with cougar!
My other tops offenders are:
That’s so gay! (instead of lame, stupid, etc)
No offence but, ….

I have to say, I used to be accused of being too nice and I had to work very hard at being assertive. I think this is still a problem for many women. The first time a man called me a bitch, he got really confused because I lit right up and, with a smile beaming on my face, I said, “REALLY?! Thanks! Thank you so much, I’m really working hard on that!” The men who worked for me cracked up and offered to rearrange the guy’s face. I think it was the great Bette Davis who said, “If they’re not calling you a bitch, you’re not doing it right.”

I thought you liked using “bitch” (there was a column?) and I am relieved to find you do not. Horrible overuse of this word, which I occasionally call my sister when she is being one.( But that’s private,)

I wish women generally would stop referring to their intimate parts in public. Why? (I partly blame Oprah for this and her “vajayjay” which she used to say repeatedly as she apparently thought it was cute, which it was not.) Same goes for reference to the “period.” I guess I like decorum in public. My mother used to say, “Don’t be vulgar.”

“Amazing” should be banned. It is used across the board, and usually coupled with “like.” Get a dictionary and look inside. There are lots and lot of wonderful words to use to describe the world. I saw a t-shirt that said, “Everything is amazing, and nobody is happy.”

“Love” should be banned too. As in I love these shoes, I love this jacket. Love, love, love. Give it a rest. Again, reach for the dictionary to find out how you feel about the shoes. Save the love for your friends and family and don’t overuse it there either. It’s too special.

haha, i love this! and you’re right: “pussy” is considered a very vulgar word in the US. extremely sexual, and not in a romantic way. it’s also often used by men as a synonym to “wimp” which is somewhat sexist. i don’t like the word “vagina” either but its better than the alternatives!

Shoot me an email- how exactly is that done? It seems so much easier to just send it.
I feel like, as in “I feel like this room would look better painted white.” No, you think not feel.
Nazi for someone that isn’t; it dilutes the meaning.
Bra or brah, as in “Catch ya later bra!”
Ya instead of you.
Um instead of them, this, or it.

Love these Garance and agree with them all. I hate how people use words to describe female genitalia as insults. Sorry, but I am reclaiming the word “cunt.” I much prefer that to pussy. I also dislike “moist” when it doesn’t refer to cake, and “panties.” *shudder* I also dislike the value-laden “lady,” as in that you should “act like a lady.” Sorry, but I am a woman and if I don’t want to be your definition of lady-like then I damn well won’t be. We need to use the term woman and women more so it is as relaxed as saying man and men. It’s not and people seem to think using man and girl is ok. To me it is not. I am 45, I am not a girl!

I cannot stand the constant use of the word “like” as in “I really don’t know what to say”.
Also (being Geman) I hate all types of silly anglicisms, especially “am Ende des Tages”. People use it all the time, yuk!